Frank Loesser’s brassy, immortal score makes Guys and Dolls SR. a crowd pleaser. The flexible cast size features both a variety of ensemble and star roles. This highly producible show is a treat for audiences and performers of any age.
Have you ever wanted to act, sing, and dance onstage but never had the time? Now is your chance thanks to Let’s Take The Stage, a new theatre program for adults 55 and over, offered by the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. This initiative celebrates the creativity and vitality of seniors by providing a variety of opportunities to get involved in the performing arts.
The first production will be Guys & Dolls SR, scheduled for June 2026. Plans include a how-to audition workshop with an expanded rehearsal process for the production, one of five musicals in Music Theatre International’s new Broadway Senior collection. The new program adapts classic musicals to meet the needs and abilities of performers 55 and over, including accessible scripts and a 60 minute running time. There’s no fee to participate in the production, and everyone over 55 is invited to audition! Complete details about Guys & Dolls SR can be found at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Guys & Dolls SR director Laurene Perry will offer a free how-to audition workshop at the Community Arts Center on Nov. 15th. The workshop will cover the practical skills needed to audition, such as script analysis, vocal and movement technique, monologue and song preparation, and what to expect during rehearsals. Auditions will be March 10 and 11, and the performances will be June 5 – 7 on the 2nd Street Stage at the Community Arts Center. Please call 910-341-7860 to register for the how-to audition workshop.
“The Community Arts Center provides year-round performing arts programs for children, and we have always wanted to offer theatre opportunities for our senior population,” said Susan Habas, Executive Director of Thalian Association, Management of the Community Arts Center. “Our new Let’s Take The Stage program is possible thanks to the MTI Broadway Senior collection. We hope everyone will audition, from theatre veterans to folks who have always wanted to be in a show but never had the opportunity. Guys and Dolls SR is just the beginning!”
Synopsis:
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls SR. is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls SR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong – all in 60 minutes!
Audition & Performance Details:
Audition Workshop: Nov. 15, 2025 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Audition: Mar. 10 & 11, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, if needed callbacks will be March 12 at 5:00 pm
Show Dates and Times: June 5 – 7, 2026, Fri. – Sat. 7:30 pm, Sun. 3:00 pm
Location: 2nd Street Stage, HBHUSO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street
Tickets: Available at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org or 910-341-7860
Price: $15 plus preservation fee & tax
The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center is owned by the City of Wilmington and
managed by Thalian Association Community Theatre. The building is a historic and cultural treasure and has been the center of recreation and art for generations of local children. Today the building continues to be the home for children, art and recreation while serving as a mini museum of the Wilmington and New Hanover County WWII home front. For information about the building history, special events and rentals, go to www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to enhancing the Cape Fear region through live community theatre and arts education. Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall and manages the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington. The youth theatre program offers training and performance opportunities for children ages seven through high school seniors. In 2007, Thalian Association Community Theatre was designated North Carolina’s Official Community Theater by the state legislature. For more information, go to www.thalian.org.
Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desks and Oliviers. Frequently revived, the show has been done with numerous all-star casts, including productions/concerts featuring Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Jessica Biel. Performers 55+ can now join this illustrious group in Guys and Doll SR!
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls SR. is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls SR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong – all in 60 minutes!